File compressor member



H. BADER FILE -coMPREssoR MEMBER A Aug. 5, 1952 Filed Dec. 51. 1948 Patented Aug. 5, 1952 f7",UNiTEoAsrATEs PATENT OFFICE vFILE COMPRESSOR MEMBER Hans Bader, Palos Heights, Ill. VApplication December 31, 1948, Serial No. 68,541 2 ClaimS. (Cl. 24-j-153) 'My invention relates to an improved holder and punch guide device for papers such as corresponce, order sheets, reports and the like, and concerns in particular, the provision of a relatively simple yet highly effective device ofA this character, for facilitating the grouping and attachment of papers to be iiled.

Such ling devices as are known to me, including those in prevailing use, are subject to a number of disadvantages. These devices in general, require either pre-aperturing of the papers to be filed, or direct manual application of a paper or papers to the prongs of the le device such as to cause the prongs to puncture and pass throughthe papers. One disadvantage ofthe first method is the requirement of a paper aperturing tool in addition to the iiling device, while a disadvantage inherent in the second method is that all too frequently, the paper is torn or otherwise multilated during application to the le prongs. Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide an effective punch guide and file holder device which avoids the above noted and other disadvantages characterizing older and prevailing devices for the general purpose indicated.

Another object is to provide a unitary device for facilitating aggroupment of papers and for guiding the prongs of an attachment member, in paper puncturing and passage through the grouped papers.

AA further object is to provide a devicel of the character hereinabove indicated, which may be retained in association with the papers led, or removed without disturbing the attachedA condition of the papers. n

Yet another object is to provide a device as indicated,'which is conveniently small for ready portability, and which is of relatively simple and light construction such as to facilitate its ready and inexpensive manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear readily from the following description of a presently preferred form thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. lis a top plan view of my device;

Fig. 2 is a bottom view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the device, as taken along line 3-3 in Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section as taken along line 4-4 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a front view at the open front of the device, showing papers therein and the relation of the device to the paper attachment prongs prior to attachment, and

to be iiled trates a presently preferred embodiment of my invention, the device comprises a body I0 formed of suitable metallic, plastic or other material, and shaped to afford a top Wall I I, bottom Wall I2 in relatively spaced, spaced, substantially parallel relation to the top wall, and a side wall I4 connecting the top and bottom walls. The body has its opposite ends I5 and the side I6 fully open as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, while the longitudinal margins I8 of the top and bottom walls at the open side I6, are oppositely Ibent or turned outwardly, in the divergent manner shown in Fig. 4.

Inwardly near each end of the top wall II is a rectangular aperture I9 through the wall, with the major axis of the aperture substantially normal to the longitudna1 dimension of the body. The top wall further has relatively narrow slots 20. therethrough, one extending from each of the apertures I9 to andv through the wall margin I8 at the open side of the body. The bottom wall I2 nearv each endv thereof, has a-wall portion 22 indented or deformed inwardly toward the underside of top wall II,v forming a guide recess 23 for a purpose to appear. Centrally through each deformed wall portion 22 is a rectangular aperture 24 which is located in underlying registry with one aperture I9 in top wall II. Moreover, a relatively narrow slot 26 extends from each aperture 24 to and through the margin I8 of the bottom wall I2, the slots 26 being in registry with the overlying slots 20 in the top wall, as this appears from the several views of the drawing.

In application, papers to be filed such as the papers 30, are grouped andthen disposed with the head marginal portions 3|l thereof between the top and bottom walls of the body I0, and in edge abutment with body side Wall I4. The divergent or outwardly flared margins I8 assist paper insertion in the device, as will be appreciated. Body I0 with the papers thus located therein, then is disposed over the upstanding prongs 32 of the paper attachment member 34, and pushed or displaced downwardly toward the base 35 of member 34. The prongs 32 enter the recesses 23 and are guided thereby to the apertures 24, passing through these apertures. As the body III is urged downwardly, the prongs puncture the grouped papers, and thence pass through the apertures I9 in top wall II When the body In is seated against the base 35 of prong member 34, the prongs may be bent toward each other to lie against the top wall II of body I0, as in Fig. 6, in which position of vide the several apertures and slots.

papers before bending over the prongs 32. This` is permitted by reason of the aligned slots 28 and 26, since in body displacement the shank portions 36 of the prongs 32 are caused to enter and pass through these slots.

l. A ling device of the character described, comprising a body member providing top and bottom walls and a side wall joining corresponding longitudinal margins of the rst said walls, the opposite corresponding longitudinal margins of the top and bottom walls being free, said top wall having apertures therein and a slot extending from each aperture to and opening through the free longitudinal margin of the wall, said bottom wall being indented in the portions thereof below said apertures in the top wall, with the indented portion directed toward the top wall, saidybottom wall having apertures centrally in the Importantly here, the Width of the slots 2li Y and 26 is approximately equal to thethickness of prongs 32, being just wide enough to allow the prongs to slip therethrough when the body I0 is removed from the attached papers. ,Moreover, to remove the body I0, a small but appreciable manual pulling force must be exerted on the body, in order to urge the base or shank portions of the prongs, lfrom their seating in vapertures I9 and 24 to alignment with an passage through the slots. To. facilitate such removal, the shoulders 48 at the juncture of leach aperture I9. and its slot 2B, as Well as the shoulders 4l at the juncture `of each aperture 24 and its slot 26, are inclined preferably at about 45 degrees, as illustrated. The vinclined shoulders thus vact as camming elements, *tor direct and guide the prongs into the slots as the body It is pulled from the attached papers.

It is to be noted here that the Ydevice Il) as now described, may be formed of sheet metal of suitable gauge, pressed to the shape described and coincidentally therewith, punched to pro- It may be formed also, by die-casting, or by'molding from plastic material, as may be desired. Furthermore, while the paper attachment member 34 may be of the Ysimple character shown, comprising a flat base` 3,5 and prongs 32, any of the well knownv forms of such means which include projections or the like for puncturing and passing through papers, may be em- It vwill be appreciated 4of course, `that the filing device I6 as herein shown Vand described,'may be adapted to any given attachment member in respect to the relative spacing of the initially upstanding projections or prongs thereof, by eiecting acorresponding relative spacing of the apertures and slots in the device.r

Having now described a presently preferred embodiment of my invention, .what I `desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent is:

indented portions, in registry with the top wall apertures, and said bottom wall further providing slotsextending from the apertures therein, to and through the free longitudinal margin of the bottom wall.

2. A filing device of the character described, comprising a one-piece member formed to provide top and bottom Walls in general parallelism,

and a side wall joining the top and bottom Walls along corresponding longitudinal margins of the latter wall, the opposite corresponding longitudinal margins of the top and bottom walls being free, said top Wall having near eachend thereof, a substantially rectangular aperture l0- cated centrally between the longitudinal margin of the wall, and a slot extending from one end of the aperture toward and through the free longitudinal margin of the wall, said bottom wall being formed to provide near each end thereof, a portion indented toward the top Wall and having a substantially rectangular aperture centrally through said .indented portion, and in Vregistry with the overlying aperture Vin the top walLsaid indented portion forming guide recesses on kopposite sides of the aperture in the indented portion, and said bottom wall further having a slot extending from one end of the rectangular aperture in the indented portion ofthe wall, toward ,and through .the free margin of the Ibottom wall.

vH ANS BADER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record v in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

